Nail feeding device

ABSTRACT

A device for the positioning and individual feeding of nails comprises a nail filling container which is pivotal upwards and downwards about a horizontal pivot shaft and in the bottom of which there are formed one or more slots which are substantially perpendicular to said pivot shaft and in which the shanks of the nails can be accommodated while the nails are maintained suspended by their upper parts, for instance their heads. According to the invention, each slot (22) passes and extends beyond the wall located at the discharge end of the container (21), and forms a feed slot (22&#39;, 22&#34;) which protrudes outside the container (21) and in the end portion (30) of which there is provided a stop (25) of such a design that the outermost nail (28) of the fed nails (23&#34;) is maintained in a correct position at the outermost end of said end portion (30) which is spaced from said pivot shaft (24) such that the end portion will perform a substantially vertical oscillating movement between a lower end position ( 27) and an upper end position (26). The end portion (30) of the feed slot may have a depression which is of such a length that only one nail (28) can be received in the depression between the stop (25) and the shoulder of the depression which is located at the proximal end thereof with respect to the pivot shaft (24). A gripping member (29) is adapted to seize the nail-carrying upper part of the outermost nail (28) when in the upper position of oscillation (26) of the end portion (30). The oscillating movement has such a magnitude that the outermost nail (28) is completely withdrawn from the end portion (30) of the feed slot when the end portion occupies its lower end position (27). The gripping member (29) is adapted to horizontally displace the nail (28) a certain distance (35) for supplying it to the nailing site.

The present invention relates to a device for the positioning andindividual feeding of nails from a nail receiving container into whichthe nails are filled, up to a mechanical device for applying the nails.

Such devices are known in which the nail filling container performs arocking or oscillating movement about the horizontal plane, such thatthe nails are displaced back and forth in the container whose bottom isprovided with one or more slots into which the nails which happen to belocated at the slot or slots and are oriented in the longitudinaldirection thereof, can swing into place so as to be suspended in a rowby their heads. At the oscillating movement of the container these nailswill slide back and forth in the slot. The container pivots about anaxis at its front edge and the nails, at this edge, are fed from themovable slots in the pivoting container out into stationary slots whichare downwardly sloping towards a discharge device. This device moves thenails laterally and releases them over a collecting funnel from whichthe nails are conveyed in hoses or tubes to the starting position forthe mechanical nailing operation.

Positioning and feeding devices of this type suffer from severaldrawbacks, for instance in that nails in the filling container willslide back and forth in the slot such that they may get stuck and causewear, and also in that the nails located in the slot of the pivotingfilling container will swing to and fro with respect to the nailssuspended in the stationary feed slot with the additional risk ofjamming and obstruction of the nails in their slots. From the stationarysloping feed slots the nails are individually fed laterally by means ofa reciprocating shuttle which feeds the nails to a conveyor supplyingthem to the nailing site. In this feed mechanism, too, there is a greatrisk that the nails will jam and obstruct the function of the device.

In addition, a device of this type is restricted to certain types ofnails, especially standard nails provided with heads.

The present invention completely overcomes these drawbacks and offersadvantages which ensure high operational reliability in a nailpositioning and feeding device and also a long life of the equipment.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved bythe provision of a device for the positioning and individual feeding ofnails, comprising a nail receiving container which is pivotal upwardsand downwards about a horizontal pivot shaft and in the bottom of whichthere are formed one or more slots which are substantially perpendicularto said pivot shaft and in which the shanks of the nails can beaccommodated while the nails are maintained suspended by their upperparts, for instance their heads, the device being characterized in thateach slot passes and extends beyond the wall located at the dischargeend of the container, and forms a feed slot which protrudes outside thecontainer and in the end portion of which there is provided a stop ofsuch a design that the outermost nail of the fed nails is maintained ina correct position at the outermost end of said end portion which isspaced from said pivot shaft such that the end portion will perform asubstantially vertical oscillating movement between a lower end positionand an upper end position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the end portion of thefeed slot has a depression which is of such a length that only one nailcan be received in the depression between the stop and the shoulder ofthe depression which is located at the proximal end thereof with respectto the pivot shaft.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the end portion, at thesides of the slot, has recesses of such a size that they will leave, atthe upper portion of the slot, guide strips which are adapted to carrythe nails and which, transversely of the direction of feed, have anouter dimension which is smaller than the outer dimension of the nailportion, for instance the diameter of the nail head, which supports thenail in the slot.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the stop is a set screwadjustable in the direction of feed of the nails.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the slot, in the directionof feed, has progressively depressed portions, which are delimited byshoulders, towards the end portion, whereby the nails carried in therespective slot portions will be prevented from sliding in a directioncontrary to the direction of feed as the end portion occupies its upperend position.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a gripping member withresilient gripping means is adapted to seize the nail-carrying upperpart of the outermost nail when the end portion has swung the outermostnail to its upper end position, this oscillating movement having such amagnitude that the outermost nail is completely withdrawn from the endportion of the feed slot when said end portion occupies its lower endposition.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the gripping member isadapted to horizontally displace the nail withdrawn from the slot, acertain distance for supplying it to a nail-collecting device disposedbeside the feeding device and adapted to convey the nail to the nailingsite.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the resilient grippingmeans of the gripping member has internal grooves provided transverselyof the longitudinal direction of the outermost nail and adapted toengage the head of a nail.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, the resilient grippingmeans of the gripping member has internal grooves extending in thelongitudinal direction of the outermost nail and adapted to accommodateand engage an outwardly bent portion for riveting which extendstransversely of the longitudinal direction of the nail.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, the end portion isadjustable with respect to the adjoining portion of the slot.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention the height of the sidewalls of the slot is greater than the full length of the suspendednails.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention an ejector plate ispivoted between the side walls of the slot and arranged to swing upwardsin the slot as the terminal portion moves from its lower position to itsupper position the ejector plate during its upward movement pushing thesuspended nails out of the slot into the nail container thus freeing theslot from nails but for a few nails suspended by the outer slotportions.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention a terminal lower slotportion at its proximal end with respect to the pivot shaft is delimitedby a shoulder having an undercut recess into which the supportingportion of one or two suspended nails can slide backwards towards thepivot shaft and be accommodated on upward movement of the terminalportion.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention the slot inside thewall located at the discharge end of the container, has on each side atthe bottom of the container, wedges rising towards said wall to such aheight that a nail sliding transversely to the slot towards said wall ondownward pivotal movement of the container is lifted off the slot suchthat the supporting portion of the suspended nail e.g. its head can passfreely underneath the transverse nail and out of the container.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention depending resilientfinger means are pivotally supported at their upper ends across thecontainer at some distance from the discharge end wall, said fingermeans being arranged to arrest the sliding mass of nails when thecontainer moves downward to the lower position of the terminal portion,the lower ends of said finger means being adapted thereafter to swingaway from the discharge end wall thereby orienting some of the nailsparallel to the slots.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention an elongate plate isslidingly connected to the end wall at the slot such that the platerests across the slot during the downward, feeding movment of the nailsbut is lifted from the slot on upward return sliding movement of thenails into the container said plate having at its bottom end a cut toallow the supporting portion, e.g. the head, of a suspended nail topass.

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a positioning and feeding device of a knowntype;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view, with parts broken away, of adevice according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view as seen from above in the sense III in FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a section as seen in the sense IV in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the device of FIG. 4 in two further workingpositions;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VII--VII in FIG. 2 and shows anembodiment of the invention which is devised for a special nail withouta head, a so-called rivet nail.

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line VIII--VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9, on a larger scale, is a section through portions IX in FIG. 5,

FIG. 10 is a section through the end portion of the feed slot.

FIG. 11 is a vertical section of the device through a nailslot, at thelower end position.

FIG. 12 is a corresponding section at the upper end position.

FIG. 13 on a larger scale illustrates the portion indicated by XIII inFIG. 11 showing an undercut recess slot,

FIG. 14 is a view as seen from above as indicated by XIV in FIG. 11,

FIG. 15 is a section taken along the line XV--XV in FIG. 14, and

FIG. 16 is a section taken along the line XVI in FIG. 15.

In FIG. 1 1 designates a box or container into which nails are looselyfilled. 2 designates a slot which is provided in the bottom of thecontainer 1 and into which nails 3, during the oscillating movement ofthe container about its horizontal position, can drop and remainsuspended by their heads in a row of nails. The container 1 pivots atits lower front edge about an articulation 4 from which stationary slots5 extend obliquely downwards and terminate at a straight edge which areciprocating shuttle 6 engages with a straight edge 7 in which recesses8 are provided at intervals which are equal to the spacings between thestationary slots 5. When the shuttle occupies the position in which therecesses 8 are in register with the slots 5, a nail 3' will slide intothe recess 8 the depth of which is so adjusted that only one nail can bereceived in the recess. Then, when the shuttle 6 moves laterally, itwill entrain one nail in each recess and stops opposite a recess 10 in astationary bar 9 engaging the straight edge 7 of the shuttle 6. Therecesses 8 and 10, at one end position of the shuttle, together form anopening of such a size that the nail will drop into a funnel 11 locatedunderneath the opening, and is conveyed through a tube or hose to thenailing site.

The filling container 1 pivots about the horizontal position between anupper position 12 and a lower position 13. The nails in the row of nails3 will then slide back and forth in the slot 2 in the bottom of thecontainer 1. At the articulation 4, the nails are fed into thestationary slots 5 in which the nails 3' will be hanging by their heads.When the slots 5 are completely filled with nails 3' and the slot 2 inthe filling container is also filled with nails 3, the shanks of theuppermost nails 3' in the stationary slot 5, during the oscillatorymovement of the container 1, will be brought into engagement with theshanks of the nails 3 in the slot 2 which are located closest to thearticulation 4 in the area 14. The nails 3, 3' adjacent the articulation4 may force each other sideways and get jammed when engaging each other,whereby the feeding operation is interrupted. Also when the nails 3' arefed laterally by the shuttle 6 from the slot 5 to the funnel 11, thenails may jam and interrupt the feeding operation as the recesses 8 and10 move with respect to each other.

In FIG. 2, there is schematically shown an embodiment according to theinvention which in a simple and ingenious way fully obviates theabove-mentioned risks of functional troubles. In the Figure, 21designates the filling container for the nails, 22 designates one of anoptional plurality of slots arranged side by side in the bottom of thecontainer 21, and 23 designates nails which have been suspended by theirheads in the slot 22 as the end portion 25 of the positioning andfeeding device pivots about the articulation 24 between an upper endposition 26 and a lower end position 27. Since there is no transfer ofnails from movable to stationary guides at the articulation 24, this maybe located in an optional position, and it is possible to achieve asatisfactory balance of the entire device during its oscillatingmovement.

When the end portion 25 is in the lower end position 27, the nails 23will slide forwards in the direction of feed and pass from the slot 22by a shoulder down onto a lower portion 22' of the slot. The nails 23'in this first lower portion 22' of the slot are prevented, in the upperposition of oscillation 26 of the device, from sliding rearwards overthe shoulder between the slots 22 and 22'. In the device now described,there is a second, still lower slot 22", and the nails 23" in thisportion 22" of the slot are prevented in the same way as earlierdescribed, from sliding rearwards in the upper position 26 of thedevice, by a shoulder between the slots 22' and 22". When the slotoccupies its lower end position 27, the nails are prevented from slidingoff the device by means of a stop 25 provided at the terminal portion 30of the slot 22" in that the outermost nail 28 is arrested by the stop25.

When the slot 22" is in its upper position of oscillation 26, the headof the outermost nail 28 is raised and inserted or pressed in betweenthe resilient jaws of a gripping member or a pair of tongs 29 which ismovable horizontally. The tongs 29 seize the uppermost part of the nail,i.e. normally the head of the nail, and retain the nail while the deviceis swung to the lower position 27 which is so located that the entirenail 28 in this position has been withdrawn from the slot 22". The nail28 is then fed onwards as will be explained in more detail below.

FIG. 3 shows one of the slots of the device as seen from above (senseIII in FIG. 2) and illustrates the top part of the slot 22' with thenails 23' as well as the shoulder between the slot portions 22', 22". Italso appears from this figure how the outermost nail 28 in the row ofnails 23" is prevented from sliding off the slot by means of an abutmentor stop 25. This abutment may be stationary but, in the shownembodiment, it is a set screw 25' which can be so adjusted that theoutermost nail 28 will be in a suitable position for engagement by thetongs 29 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a section of the terminal portion 30 taken through the row ofnails 23" suspended in the slot 22". The set screw 25' screwed throughthe stop 25 is so adjusted that the head of the outermost nail 28 abutswith its edge on the shoulder to the slot portion 22". In this manner,the nail 28 will be held safely in place for engagement by the grippingmember 29.

In FIG. 3, 30 designates the terminal portion of the slot portion 22"having recesses 31 and 32 which are so adapted that the head of theoutermost nail 28 protrudes laterally from the narrow guide ribs definedby the recesses 31, 32.

FIG. 4 is a section of the terminal portion 30 taken along the lineIV--IV in FIG. 3 and shows the outermost nail 28. In this figure areshown the recesses 31 and 32 as well as the two guide ribs 33 and 34which carry the outermost nail 28 by its head. In the shown embodiment,the length of the nails is greater than the height of the slot 22". Fromthe figure it appears that the tongs 29 can seize about and retain thehead of the nail 28 without being hindered by the two guide ribs 33 and34 on which the head rests. This figure shows the position in which theterminal portion 30 is in its upper end position 26.

FIG. 5 shows the position of the terminal portion 30 when it is in itslower end position 27 in which the nail 28, maintained by the tongs 29,is well above the terminal portion 30.

FIG. 6 shows how the tongs 29 holding the nail 28 have been moved adistance 35 laterally away from the terminal portion 30 such that thenail 28 will hang precisely above the funnel 32 in which the nail 28 isdropped once correctly positioned. From the funnel 32 the nail passesthrough a nose or tube to the nailing site in a per se known manner.

After the tongs 29 have released the nail 28, they will again move thedistance 35 in the opposite direction so as to be located straight overthe terminal portion 30 when this again reaches its upper position 26(FIG. 4) with a new nail 28 in the outermost position. The tongs 29 willgrasp the nail 28 by the head and the process as now described will becyclically repeated.

In FIG. 7, there is shown another embodiment of the invention in whichthe positioning and feeding device is designed for a rivet nail 41. Thisnail has no head but two bulging expandible tip portions 42 and 43 whichare designed for riveting and are at right angles to each other. Thebulges at the tips or points of the nail 41 are such that the bulge 43located at that point of the nail which will drop into the deep slot 36will position the nail in rotational respect such that the expandibleportion 42 of the opposite point of the nail is located transversely ofthe longitudinal direction of the slot, recesses 37 and 38 being sodesigned that the bulging portion 42 will rest on narrow edges or ribs39 and 40. In the position shown in this figure, the end portion of theslot 36 is in its upper position 26 and so the tongs 29 with theirresilient jaws 29' can seize about the upper bulge 42 and retain thenail as the device moves downwardly towards its lower position 27,whereby the nail is completely withdrawn from the slot 36 and a cyclesimilar to that of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 can be performed.

FIG. 8 is a section through the resilient jaws 29' of the tongs 29 andthe riveting nail 41 in FIG. 7 taken along the line VIII--VIII. The jawsare formed with depressions or V-shaped grooves 45 which extend in thelongitudinal direction of the nail 28 and enclose the bulging portion 42of the nail 41. The nail will hereby be guided and held safely in place.

FIG. 9 is a section through the resilient jaws 29" of the tongs 29 takenat IX--IX in FIG. 5. 46 designates a straight or annular groove whichreceives the head of the nail 28 in such a manner that the nail will besafely retained in a correct position.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 50 designates a nail container and 51 a nail slot. 52is the distant wall of the slot 51 whereas the proximate wall is cutaway. Nails 53 are suspended by their heads in the nail slot 51 withinthe nail container. The height of the walls of the slot are greater thanthe total length of the nails 53. The slot 51 extends through the endwall 54 of the nail container 50 and has an opening 55 allowing thesupporting portion of the nails to pass through the wall. Outside theend wall 54 the slot 51 terminates in projection 56, protruding above anundercut recess 57 into which one or two nails can slide and beaccommodated when the nails slide backwards towards the pivot shaft 58as illustrated in FIG. 12. From the recess 57 a nail slot 51' extendstowards the terminal portion 59 of the slot and at the terminal endthere is a short slot 51" sloping downwards by an angle such that theslot 51" approximately is horizontal in the upper end portion 61. Theslot portion 51" is adapted to accommodate one single nail. In FIG. 11the terminal portion occupies its lower end position 60. In thisposition all the nail slots 51, 51' and 51" are filled with nails.

FIG. 11 also depicts an ejector plate 62 having a pivot 63. The ejectorplate 62 can move between two positions, the lower one being indicatedin FIG. 11 and the upper one in FIG. 12. At the upper end position 61the edge 64 of the plate is approximately at the top level of the slot51. The ejector plate is pivoting in the slot 51 and the thickness ofthe plate is somewhat smaller than the width of the slot. The ejectorplate is displaced by the action of a hydraulic cylinder or any powersource. At the lower end position 60 the ejector plate 62 takes theposition given in FIG. 11. The action of the ejector plate will bedescribed in more detail later on.

FIG. 12 illustrates the situation of the device being in the upper endposition 61. When moving to this position the nails in the slots as wellas the mass 66 of nails in the container have moved backwards under theaction of gravity. The outermost nail 53" is kept in place by a shoulder65 (see FIG. 13) whereas some nails 53' are suspended in the nail slot51', the two innermost nails being accommodated under the projections 56which efficiently prevent the nails from sliding backwards into thecontainer.

On the upward movement of the device the ejector plate 62 issimultanously displaced from its lower position illustrated in FIG. 11to its top position illustrated in FIG. 12. In doing so all nailssuspended within the slot 51 inside the container are ejected from theslot which generally means that all nails carried by the slot 51 areejected and the slot is quite free to accept nails on the downwardmovement of the device.

It has been found that the action of the pivoting ejector plate 62 isvery favourable in securing a controlled nail feed and that nails arefed to the depressed nail slot 51' at such a rate that there will notoccur any lack of nails in the nail feed. The high walls 52 of the nailslot also contributes to a controlled and undisturbed feeding action ofthe device. As can be seen from FIG. 12 the outermost nail 53" issupported by the slot portion 51" being mainly horizontal in thisposition of the device. This means that the nail is suspended verystable as the head of the nail has large supporting areas.

FIG. 13 in more detail illustrates the projections 56, the undercutrecess 57 and nails 53' suspended in the slot 51' by their heads thusbeing prevented from leaving the slot 51' by the projections 56, whichcover the heads of the innermost nails 53'.

In FIG. 14 the numbers 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 are the samedesignations as previously described. By 66 a mass of nails is indicatedand 67 indicates wedges rising towards the end wall 54. Close to the endwall 54 the wedges have such a height that when sliding forward nails ofthe mass 66 being mainly transverse to the slot 51 are lifted by thewedges to such at height above the bottom of the nail container that thesupporting portions of the nails, e.g. the nail heads, can freely be fedalong the nail slot 51 through openings 55, 70 and out of the containerunobstructed by the nail mass 66. This secures a good serviceability andtrouble-free action of the device.

FIG. 15 clearly shows how the mass of nails 66 are lifted by the wedges67 above the heads of the nails 53 and adds to the clearness of theaction of the wedges 67. FIG. 15 further illustrates an elongate slidingplate 68 being slidable along the end wall 54 as indicated by thedouble-headed arrow 69. The sliding movement 69 is achieved by a smallhydraulic cylinder or any suitable means. FIG. 15 illustrates the lowerend position where the nail mass 66 abuts the end wall 54 andconsequently also the sliding plate 68. The sliding plate 68 rests onthe top of the slot 51 and has an opening 70 for free passage of thesupporting head of the nails 53.

As the device moves on its upper end position 61, the nails slidingbackwards, the sliding plate 68 is lifted from the slot so that the fullopening 55 of the end wall 54 is uncovered, thereby avoiding nails to bestuck by a small opening in the end wall 54. This action of the plate 68further contributes to the touble-free operation of the nail feedingdevice.

In FIG. 16 numbers 51, 53, 54, 55, 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70 refer to thesame designations as previously described.

In the FIGS. 11 and 12 72 designates a depending resilient finger means,pivotally supported at 75 at its upper end 73. The pivot shaft 75extends across the container at some distance from the discharge endwall 54. The finger means 72 are arranged rather close to one another ina comb-like fashion resulting in the nails passing the finger meansbeing mainly parallel to the direction of the slot 51. On reaching thelower end position 60 the finger means 72 pivot anti-clockwise by pivotshaft 75 allowing more nails to pass and to be oriented mainly along theslot 51.

It is obvious that if it is desirable to increase the capacity of thenail positioning and feeding device, it is possible to arrange anarbitrary number of slots side by side, which cooperate with tongs thatcan be simultaneously moved laterally for feeding nails to collectingfunnels. It is also possible, by means of an adjustment device, to varythe oscillating movement about the pivot shaft and the distance betweenthe pivot shaft and the terminal portion in such a manner that the upperand lower end positions are adapted to different nail lengths. Othermodifications may also be adopted within the spirit and scope of theaccompanying claims.

We claim:
 1. A device for the positioning and individual feeding ofnails, comprising a nail receiving container which is pivotal upwardsand downwards about a horizontal pivot shaft and in the bottom of whichthere are formed one or more slots which are substantially perpendicularto said pivot shaft and in which the shanks of the nails can beaccommodated while the nails are maintained suspended by their upperparts, for instance their heads, characterized in that each slot (22)passes and extends beyond the wall located at the discharge end of thecontainer (21), and forms a feed slot (22', 22") which protrudes outsidethe container (21) and in the end portion (30) of which there isprovided a stop (25) of such a design that the outermost nail (28) ofthe fed nails (23") is maintained in a correct position at the outermostend of said end portion (30) which is spaced from said pivot shaft (24)such that the end portion will perform a substantially verticaloscillating movement between a lower end position (27) and an upper endposition (26); the height of the side walls (52) of the slot (51) beinggreater than the full length of the suspended nails (53); and an ejectorplate (62) pivoted between the side walls of the slot (51) and arrangedto swing upwards in the slot as the terminal portion (59) moves from itslower position (60) to its upper end position (61) the ejector plate(62) on its upward movement pushing the suspended nails (53) out of theslot (51) into the nail container (50), thus, freeing the slot (51) fromnails but for a few nails (53, 53' in FIG. 2) suspended by the outerslot portions.
 2. A device for the positioning and individual feeding ofnails, comprising a nail receiving container which is pivotal upwardsand downwards about a horizontal pivot shaft and in the bottom of whichthere are formed one or more slots which are substantially perpendicularto said pivot shaft and in which the shanks of the nails can beaccommodated while the nails are maintained suspended by their upperparts, for instance their heads, characterized in that each slot passesand extends beyond the wall located at the discharge end of thecontainer and in the end portion of which there is provided a stop ofsuch a design that the outermost nail of the fed nails is maintained ina correct position at the outermost end of said end portion which isspaced from said pivot shaft such that the end portion will perform asubstantially vertical oscillating movement between a lower end positionand an upper end position;the said slot, in the direction of feed,having progressively depressed portions, which are delimited byshoulders, towards the end portion, whereby the nails carried in therespective slot portions will be prevented from sliding in a directioncontrary to the direction of feed as the end portion occupies its upperend position; a terminal lower slot portion (51') at its proximal endwith respect to the pivot shaft (58) is delimited by a shoulder (56),having an undercut recess (57) into which the supporting portion of oneor two suspended nails (53', FIG. 13) can slide rearwards towards thepivot shaft (58) and can be accommodated on upward movement of theterminal portion (59).
 3. A device for the positioning and individualfeeding of nails, comprising a nail receiving container which is pivotalupwards and downwards about a horizontal pivot shaft and in the bottomof which there are formed one or more slots which are substantiallyperpendicular to said pivot shaft and in which the shanks of the nailscan be accommodated while the nails are maintained suspended by theirupper parts, for instance their heads, characterized in that each slot(22) passes and extends beyond the wall located at the discharge end ofthe container (21), and forms a feed slot (22', 22") which protrudesoutside the container (21) and in the end portion (30) of which there isprovided a stop (25) of such a design that the outermost nail (28) ofthe fed nails (23") is maintained in a correct position at the outermostend of said end portion (30) which is spaced from said pivot shaft (24)such that the end portion will perform a substantially verticaloscillating movement between a lower end position (27) and an upper endposition (26); and an elongate plate (68) slidingly (69) connected tothe end wall (54) at a slot (51) such that the plate (68) rests acrossthe slot (51) during the downward feeding movement of the nails (53) butis lifted from the slot on upward return sliding movement of the nailsinto the container, said plate (68) having at its bottom end a cut (70)to allow the supporting portion, e.g. the head, of a suspended nail topass.